Minister of Justice Mehmet
Ali Şahin apologized from the relatives of Engin Ceber on behalf of the State
and the Government for his death. According to Taylan Tanay, with whom bianet
met about the matter, said, “No government official has ever apologized for
torture. This is a positive step.”

“The inspectors determined
there was bad treatment”

The Minister of Justice has
also announced his inspectors determined that Ceber had been subjected to bad
treatment.

Total of nineteen officials
from the Metris Prison, including the prison doctor, have been removed from
their posts temporarily.

Şahin also said Sarıyer’s
Chief Prosecutor was investigating the matter to determine whether or not Ceber
was tortured. According to cnnturk.com, a civil service chief inspector and a
police chief inspector, assigned by the Ministry of Interior, have been making
inspections for the past two days.

Tanay: Positive but late
and not enough

Lawyer Tanay stated that
the minister’s announcement was “late and not enough”.

“I wish they could have
been removed from their posts when Ceber had been taken to the hospital on
October 7. This way the witnesses who were listened in the meantime would have
been able to give more objective statements.”

“This act is punishable by
life sentence with no possibility for parole. The suspects should have been
arrested immediately.”

Tanay is hoping that this
announcement will be put on Ceber’s file and the secrecy decision regarding the
case will be lifted.

Tanay also says the Sarıyer
prosecutor, who had ordered the arrest of Ceber and his friends, cannot conduct
this investigation.

“The office of the Sarıyer
Prosecutor that asked for the arrest of the victims rather than the
investigation of the torture cannot be objective in this torture investigation.
Both the prosecutor and the judge are responsible, too. We will file a
complaint against them with the Supreme Council of the Judges and Prosecutors.
”

“We are certain of torture”

Lawyer Tanay says that they
have no second thoughts about the torture, since the medical examinations made
on Ceber’s corpse showed various bruises.

Tanay says they are hoping
Minister of Interior Beşir Atalay, who controls the police in the country, will
make a similar announcement. (TK/TB)

The inspectors from the Ministry of Justice reached the conclusion that there was bad treatment in the case of Ceber’s death. 19 officials from the Metris Prison have been removed from their posts temporarily.

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